How to Attach the Water Bottle to the Cage

September 10, 2010

By:Elke May

Every animal needs water, and a water bottle is the simplest and cleanest way to provide it. Whether you own a hamster, guinea pig or chinchilla, using a water bottle instead of a bowl ensures clean water for your pet and less work for you. You will not have to worry about picking bedding and food out of a bowl, or cleaning up the cage if it is knocked over. A water bottle can be attached to a cage in several ways.

Without a water bottle, your small pet will have a hard time getting a drink.

Purchase a Water Bottle Holder

Determine your cage type. Small animal cages either have wire sides or solid sides, like an aquarium. The small animal section of your local pet store, such as Petsmart or Petco, will have a selection of water bottles and holders that will fit your cage.

Choose and purchase a water bottle holder based on the size of the water bottle you need. A good water bottle holder is the universal fit Super Pet Water Bottle Holder, as seen on the Pawtastic Pet Supplies website.

Attach the water bottle to the cage. On the back of the water bottle holder is a movable tab that, for a wire side cage, slips between two bars and then moves down to hold it in place. You can then move the holder up or down depending on your pet's height. For a solid side cage, you can simply set the holder over the top ledge.

Insert the water bottle into the water bottle holder so that the drinking section of the bottle pokes out the hole at the bottom of the holder. Stretch out the adjustable metal band in the middle of the holder so that it goes over the bottle and holds it in place.

Make a Water Bottle Holder

Determine your cage type. Small animal cages either have wire sides or solid sides, like an aquarium.

Determine the height at which you want the water bottle to be placed. Place the wire around the water bottle and cut a length of wire two inches longer than the width of the bottle. Cut a second piece of the same length.

Attach the water bottle to the cage. For a wire side cage, wrap the two lengths of wire in a U-shape around the front side of the bottle, one towards the top and the other towards the bottom. Make sure the excess wire sticks out towards the cage. Using the pliers, bend the excess wire around a wire on the cage. Make sure to wrap it tightly so that the water bottle stays in place. When all four excess bits of wire have been wrapped around the wire on the cage, use the pliers to clamp down on them, ensuring that they stay tight.

For a solid side cage, wrap the two lengths of wire around the bottle, one towards the top and the other towards the bottom. Instead of leaving the excess wire sticking out, wrap the wire completely around the water bottle and ensure that it is tight, linking the ends of the wire with one another both on the top and on the bottom. Cut two more lengths of wire to attach the top wire ring to the bottom ring. Depending on where you want the height of the water bottle to be, cut two more lengths of wire, leaving six inches of excess. Wrap the ends of the two new lengths around the top ring of wire already attached to the water bottle. Securely tighten by squeezing the pliers around the attached section. Bend the two long lengths of wire so that the water bottle hangs down into the cage and five to six inches of excess wire hangs over the outside edge. Secure the excess wire with strong tape, such as duct tape.